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Topic: Homemade laundry soap (Read 9601 times)

I found this recipe for homemade laundry soap on a frugality forum many moons ago. It's so much cheaper to make the soap yourself (I believe it works out to about $.40-.50 per gallon) and it's also free of some of the nastier ingredients that are often found in commercial laundry soaps. It really easy to make. Takes about 20-30 minutes. And you get at least two gallons. You do have to shake it a bit before each use as it tends to clump a bit, but your clothes come out clean and smelling only of the fabrics they are made from. You used to be able to get all the ingredients from your local supermarket, but we mostly shop Wal-mart for paper/cleaning goods and I haven't been able to find the Fels Naptha in my store for quite awhile. I ordered enough online to last me a long time.

Grate 1/3 bar of Fels Naptha soap. Heat water in saucepan on stove, but not to boiling. Add grated soap to water, stir until dissolved, do not boil. Add 2 quarts hot water to bucket. Remove soap/water mixture from heat. Add washing soda and borax, stir until completely dissolved. Add soap mixture to hot water in bucket; stir. Add enough cold water to bucket to make 2 gallons; stir. Transfer soap to laundry soap bottles before it gels. Use 1/2 to 1 cup per load.

Tips:Make sure borax is lump free before adding to soap. Place bottles on a towel, use a funnel and cup to transfer soap from bucket. Pre-mark a 2-gallon line on bucket using a permanent marker.Soap will look "funny" and might separate in bottle, shake before use.I use 1/4 to 1 capfull per load, depending on load size/soil level. If you have a large enough bucket, it's useful to make a double batch.

I used to make this exact recipe years ago when my kids were small and I was doing roughly 97 loads of laundry a week (just kidding, it was really only about 40.) I can't remember where I got it exactly, but I also used to hang out on a frugality board (I think started out as Frugal Moms and eventually became Frugal Families?) so that's probably where it came from.

It was a lifetime ago. Good times though! DD remembered you right away. I think I sent you a little angel once when you weren't feeling well. Can't remember for sure. Doesn't matter. Good to see you again too, and good to know that you're doing so well!

Has anyone heard of the Smart Klean laundry ball from Sweden? My DIL went to the Green Festival in Chicago over the week end and bought one......cost around $39 and supposedly does 365 loads of laundry! Here's the link.....

I don't know....good question! I read lots of independent reviews and they were favorable......most said their clothes smelled fresher than when using soap. At the lake, I'm on a septic system so I'm always cognizant of what I put down my drain.....guess I am anywhere! Ordered one to try so will let you know. If it works and you can do 365 loads using one ball, then I'm in!

I've done three loads....so far so good! My DIL didn't read instructions and had some streaks on sheets but they recommend that you clean your machine before using with several tubs of white vinegar, which I did and I've been pleased with the results. Apparently, the soap scum that builds up on the sides of your washer may come off on clothes if you don't clean your washer first. They also say to add hydrogen peroxide for a whitening agent.....that worked too! The ball costs around $49.00......but is good for 365 washes, is good for the environment and will be much cheaper in the long run.

Jan...second question...I read that you don't need to rinse your clothes after using the laundry ball. Does this mean that you need to take the ball out between your wash and rinse cycle? If you don't, does that count as 2 wash loads off your 365? Or you don't let it run thru a rinse cycle? Hmmm...I may be over thinking this!

Wow! So you use half as much water too!!! Jan, do you try to catch it at the end of a wash cycle...or do you just choose one of your rinse cycles instead of a wash cycle? This will be perfect for our motor home...one selection is a short wash cycle only.

Yes Deanna, half the water too! While here on the lake, I have a well and septic system so using less water is more eco-friendly. The only catch is that my washer is an older model so I have to manually stop the rinse cycle.

Hi Jan, I haven't seen any of your posts lately, so I hope you're still checking in here. I finally just ordered the laundry ball, and I have some questions about it:1. Are you still using it and do you still like it?2. Are you still running your clothes only through a wash cycle...and no rinse cycle?3. Do you think using a small amount of white vinegar, in the wash cycle with your laundry ball (maybe 1/2 cup) would affect the performance of your laundry ball...even though there's NO RINSE CYCLE?4. Do you add an essential oil for fragrance and, if so, which one? I read that someone uses lemon.5. Any other info you have gleaned from using the Smartklean ball?

If anyone has Jan's email address, please email her and tell her these questions are on here...I'm hoping she'll give me this info.

Hi Rita, Jan said she used it for 6-8 months, but her husband kept making negative comments about his clothes...smell, etc. so she stopped using it.

I'm sending mine back. I don't like having no fragrance...also I thought I would be able to use the rinse cycle so I wouldn't have to run it through a second cycle, but my rinse cycles don't run long enough. And I'm not willing to run a wash cycle, then have to try and catch it to turn it off before the rinse cycle starts. That's why I was interested in it...so I'd just be using half the water, but I'd never be able to catch it at the end of the wash cycle...and don't even want to try.

Jan said they really like the "My Pillow" though. I miss her communications on the forum.